OfflineBazar is a product of Fourline Studio, West Bengal, India (“we”, “us”). This policy explains what we collect when you use the OfflineBazar app, offlinebazar.com and seller.offlinebazar.com, why we collect it, who we share it with and the choices you have. By using OfflineBazar you agree to this policy and our Terms & Conditions.

What we collect

• Your mobile number, verified with a one-time password (OTP) sent by SMS, and the name you choose, to create your account and sign you in. Shop owners may also sign in with an email address and password.
• Your location, only when you allow it or pick an area, to show shops near you and directions. We use it for that search and don't keep a history of where you have been.
• Chat messages, photos and voice notes you send to shops, so the shop can read and reply to them.
• Reviews you write, which are shown publicly with your name.
• Activity such as searches, shop views and taps on call, WhatsApp and directions. Shops see these as counts so they know how buyers find them.
• Device information such as app version, device type and a notification token, so the app works and can send notifications you have allowed.
• For shop owners: shop details, address and map location, photos, products, prices, offers and events you publish, plus billing details (name, address, GSTIN if you give one) for GST invoices.

Payments

Buyers never pay on OfflineBazar. Shop owners pay for seller plans and boosts on seller.offlinebazar.com through PayU, a licensed payment gateway. Card, UPI, net banking and wallet details are entered on PayU and processed by PayU; we never see or store your card number, CVV, UPI PIN or bank password. We keep a record of each payment (amount, date, plan, PayU transaction ID) and the GST invoice. If you turn on autopay, we also keep the mandate reference PayU gives us (and, for cards, only the last 4 digits) so we can renew your plan; you can turn autopay off at any time.

No ads, no ad trackers

OfflineBazar does not use advertising networks or ad trackers, and we never sell your personal data. We record visits and taps (such as Call, WhatsApp and Directions) only to show shop owners how their shop is doing, and shops that pay for a Boost are always marked "Sponsored". See Our promise.

How we use it

To run OfflineBazar: show nearby shops, products and offers, connect buyers with shops, review shops before they go live, send notifications you have allowed, issue invoices, provide support, prevent fraud and misuse, meet legal requirements and improve the service. We do not sell your personal information.

What shops and other users can see

When you chat with a shop, it sees your name and your messages. When you call or WhatsApp a shop, that happens through your phone and the shop sees your number, as with any call. Reviews show your name publicly. Shops see counts of views and taps, not who viewed them. Shop details that owners publish (name, address, phone, products, photos) are public.

Service providers

We use trusted providers to run the service: cloud hosting and file storage, an SMS provider to send OTPs, Google Maps for places and directions, Google Firebase and Expo for notifications, PayU for payments, and OpenAI to understand unusual search words (only the search word is sent). They process data only to provide their service to us. We may also share information when required by law or to protect users and the service.

How long we keep data

We keep your information while your account is active. When an account is deleted we remove or anonymise personal data, except what we must keep by law, such as GST invoices and payment records (normally 8 years under Indian tax law), and records needed to resolve disputes or prevent fraud.

Deleting your account

You can ask us to delete your account at any time from Account → Delete account in the app or on the website, or by emailing help.offlinebazar@gmail.com from the details registered on your account. Our team reviews each request and completes it within 30 days. See how account deletion works for what is deleted and what is kept.

Your choices and rights

• Turn location or notifications off at any time in your phone or browser settings.
• Turn off offers and announcements in Account.
• Edit your name and shop details in the app or seller panel.
• Ask for a copy of your data, a correction, or deletion by writing to help.offlinebazar@gmail.com.

Keeping data safe

Data is sent over encrypted connections (HTTPS) and stored on secured servers with restricted access. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to protect your information and will act quickly if something goes wrong.

Children

OfflineBazar is not meant for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their information. Shop owners must be 18 or older.

Changes and contact

If we change this policy we will update the date above and, for important changes, let you know in the app. For privacy questions or complaints, contact our grievance contact at Fourline Studio:

Email help.offlinebazar@gmail.com or call / WhatsApp +91 93546 31445. We reply Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm (IST). OfflineBazar is a product of Fourline Studio, West Bengal, India.